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BAREFOOT RUNNING: FAD OR FUTURE?

Philadelphia Runner's Ross Martinson weighs in

Posted by Ross Martinson on 9/2/2010 at 1:10PM | 3 Comments

You’ve probably seen someone wearing a pair of Vibram FiveFingers by now. The last few weekends I’ve even seen a few people running full barefoot. Why are they doing it? Should you run barefoot?

Maybe, a little.

Proponents of barefoot running, or its close cousin, minimalist running, believe our bodies were made to run. They feel adding cushioning or controlling devices found in traditional running shoes will only interfere with our naturally perfect feet and strides. But I’ve seen way too many feet to think we have evolved into perfect running machines. Combine that with spending most of our waking hours behind a desk or on a couch? We need to help our bodies as much as possible to stay injury-free. READ MORE

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YOUR GUIDE TO RUNNING (AND LOVING!) THE PHILADELPHIA MARATHON

(And half-marathon, too!)

Posted by Ross Martinson on 8/16/2010 at 10:02AM | 8 Comments

Illustration by Justin Renninger

Running  the Philadelphia Marathon or Half Marathon?  Awesome!  Now do a little planning to make sure you cross the finish line happy, healthy, and exited to run again.  You want to do everything you can to make training for the race fun, while eliminating any excuses that would keep you from training. READ MORE

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SEVEN SMART WAYS TO OUTRUN PHILLY’S HEAT

Local running coach Ross Martinson's hatred of Philly's three Hs has led him to discover ways to beat these sultry temps

Posted by Ross Martinson on 6/4/2010 at 1:47PM | 1 Comment

If these hot, pre-summer Philly days have been killing you, you’re not alone. Somehow I forget that I was just wishing for June’s hot temps a few months ago when I was running outside during Philly’s bone-chilling cold. But when the city heats up in the summer, I always find running becomes less enjoyable—sweating isn’t top on my list of fun things to do.

My hatred of Philly’s three Hs, has, over the years, led me to discover ways to beat these sultry temps. So the next time you head out for a run, keep these tips in mind:

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PHILLY RUNNING LEGENDS: NEILL CLARK

Running coach Ross Martinson chats with the 12-time Bar Run winner on everything from how he avoids injury to what keeps him motivated year after year

Posted by Ross Martinson on 5/25/2010 at 8:30AM | 1 Comment

Neill Clark

Neill Clark, a class action lawyer for Berger & Montague, won the 2010 lawyers division of the Philadelphia Bar Association 5K for the 12th consecutive time on Sunday, May 16th. I gave him a call to ask him about everything from how he avoids injury to what keeps him motivated year after year. Check out our Q&A below.

What keeps you motivated year after year?
A passion for the sport, for staying fit, and the process of staying fit. It’s important having people to train with and the camaraderie of a shared purpose.

How have you avoided injury?
Stop at the first sign of trouble, rather than wait and hope it gets better.

What was your hardest race?
One year I went to a wedding in D.C. the night before and showed up at the line with no sleep. READ MORE

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5 GREAT BLUE CROSS BROAD STREET RUN RECOVERY TIPS

Local running coach Ross Martinson on how to ease soreness, up energy — and when to run again

Posted by Ross Martinson on 5/11/2010 at 11:37AM | No Comments

Still sore from the Blue Cross Broad Street Run? How long it takes to recover depends on how well you prepared, how long you were on the course, weather condition, and your age. After Sunday’s heat and humidity you can expect to need one to three weeks before you are fully recovered. Minimize that time with these five keys to recovery:
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